The skyline theatre

Abstract

This installation at the 13th Participatory Design Conference (PDC) is based on a site-specific project to establish a space in Windhoek, Namibia, devoted to outdoor performance and the display of outdoor sculptures. For this purpose we designed an amphitheatre space called "The Skyline Theatre". The PDC installation, ("Chalklines") is an adapted version that consists of moveable modular units which can be rearranged by participants within a demarcated space. The units are fitted with chalk bases, which make marks on the space below and thus trace the actions and choices of participants. The units can be used as seating, to form plinths or even as part of a performance. It is hoped that this installation will create a space that collapses the conventional boundaries between audience and actor, viewer and artwork. The final artistic product of this participatory project will essentially be the line drawing that evolves out of the movement of the units on the platform.